Apparatus for aiding in the storing and preserving of donor corneas

Abstract

An apparatus includes a lower ring member having a frusto-conical upper surface over which the sclera of the cornea to be transplanted is placed. An upper ring member is also included. Both ring members have registrable openings of a size such that only an annular portion of the sclera outwardly of the cornea is clamped when wing nuts are tightened on a number of threaded studs pivotally attached to the lower ring member. In this way enough clamping pressure can be exerted on the sclera to prevent flow of fluid therethrough into the corneal stroma.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for aiding in the storing and preserving of a human cornea to be subsequently transplanted comprising a first relatively rigid plate member having a raised central section providing a first surface formed with a first circular opening therein having a diameter on the order of 12 millimeters to provide one relatively sharp, line-like edge for bearing against only the sclera of the cornea to be preserved, said first surface sloping downwardly from said one relatively sharp, line-like edge at an angle to a location spaced sufficiently from said one edge so as to underlie and support all of the sclera integral with the human cornea to be preserved, said angle corresponding to that forming the natural concavity of the sclera of the human cornea so as to provide said support, a second relatively rigid plate member providing a second surface formed with a second circular opening therein to provide a second relatively sharp, line-like edge registrable with, and of a size also on the order of 12 millimeters so as to be engageable with said one relatively sharp, line-like edge of the first circular opening in the absence of a cornea, said first and second surfaces diverging outwardly from the edges of said relatively sharp, line-like first and second openings, and spaced respective clamping means acting in a direction to pull said members toward each other, said openings adapted to accommodate therein the cornea to be preserved free of engagement by said first and second members in that only the relatively sharp, line-like edges of said first and second openings bear against the sclera integral with the cornea to be preserved. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said raised central section constitutes a frustoconical portion corresponding to the natural cavity of the sclera of the human cornea, said frusto-conical portion having said first circular opening extending therethrough. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which one side of said second member is flat so that an outwardly flaring void is provided when said members are in a confronting relationship with each other, said void freely accommodating that portion of the sclera extending beyond said circular openings, said first surface having a width on the order of 7 millimeters. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said plate members constitute first and second rings, each ring having outwardly projecting spaced pairs of radially directed ears, said clamping means including a threaded element pivotally connected at one end between each pair of ears of said first ring and having its other end receivable between an associated pair of said ears on said second ring, and a wing nut threadedly received on each threaded element for causing said rings to be pulled toward each other, thereby clamping the sclera belonging to the cornea to be preserved between the portions of said first and second rings circumjacent their said openings. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for aiding in the storing and preserving of a human cornea to be subsequently transplanted comprising an upper and a lower relatively rigid cooperable ring member for compressively engaging only the sclera therebetween which is integral with the cornea to be preserved, said ring members each having a central opening extending therethrough for freely encircling and accommodating the cornea, said openings having diameters on the order of 12 millimeters to provide the same cross section forming registrable and matable relatively sharp, line-like edges for compressively engaging said sclera, said lower ring member having a first surface sloping downwardly and outwardly from the relatively sharp, line-like edge of its opening in a direction away from its said opening and said upper ring member having a generally flat surface extending horizontally and outwardly from the relatively sharp, line-like edge of its said opening, said first and second surfaces forming an acute angle with each other and said first surface extends to a location spaced sufficiently from the opening of said lower ring member so as to underlie and support all of the sclera integral with the cornea to be preserved, the angle of said first surface corresponding to that forming the natural concavity of the sclera of the human cornea to provide said support, and respective means interengaging said ring members at angularly spaced locations for urging said upper ring member axially in the direction of said lower ring member to compress the sclera between said relatively sharp, line-like edges to prevent fluid flow from the outer peripheral edge of the sclera into the cornea. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said interengaging means includes a plurality of quadrantly spaced threaded elements, a plurality of radially projecting clevises on said first ring member equal in number of the number of threaded elements, one end of each threaded element being pivotally secured to one of said clevises, and a plurality of radially projecting clevises on said second ring member, the other ends of said threaded elements being receivable in said last-mentioned clevises, and a threaded nut member on each of said other ends for urging said first ring member axially in the direction of said second ring member to compress said sclera between said relatively sharp, line-like edges, the degree of tightening of said nut members determinng the extent said sclera is compressed and hence the degree the flow of fluid through the sclera into the cornea is prevented. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said first surface has a width on the order of 7 millimeters. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said first member includes an annular flat edge, said first surface sloping at the same angle throughout its width to said annular flat edge. 
     
     
       9. A method for aiding in the storing and preserving of a cornea to be subsequently transplated comprising the steps of first placing the sclera of the cornea to be stored on a first relatively rigid plate member having a raised central section providing a first sloping surface formed with a circular opening therein to provide one edge of a size so that the sclera engages both said central section and said one edge, and so that the cornea is located in a spaced relation from said one edge, placing a second relatively rigid plate member providing a second surface formed with a second circular opening therein to provide a second edge that is registrable with said one edge so that said sclera resides between said edges, said first and second surfaces diverging outwardly from the edges of said first and second openings when said second plate member has been positioned on the upper side of said sclera to cause the underside of said sclera to bear against said first edge, and clamping said members in a direction to pull said members toward each other so that the edges of said first and second openings are forced only against the sclera and not the cornea to compress said sclera sufficiently so that fluid will not flow therethrough. 
     
     
       10. A method of aiding in the storing and preserving of a cornea to be subsequently transplanted comprising the steps of positioning the sclera of the cornea to be transplanted over a generally frusto-conical portion of a member having a central opening therein, the opening therein being sufficiently large so as to not engage any portion of the cornea, placing a ring member having an opening corresponding generally in size with the opening in said frusto-conical portion in registry with the opening in said frusto-conical portion with a circular portion of the sclera therebetween, and then pressing said upper ring member in a direction toward said frusto-conical portion so as to compress the ring section of said sclera only to such a degree as to effectively close off and block the pores of said sclera to thereby prevent a path for the flow of fluid through said sclera.